A U.S. district judge on Friday rejected California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s request to dismiss Exxon Mobil’s (XOM) lawsuit accusing him of defamation in criticizing the company’s initiatives around advanced plastics recycling, Reuters reported.
The judge rebuffed Bonta’s claim that he was immune from being sued because he criticized Exxon (XOM) in his official capacity and in the “heartland” of his employment duties.
The judge also said whether the AG criticized Exxon (XOM) in good faith was a question of fact to be determined later.
Exxon (XOM) sued Bonta in January 2025, after California had filed a lawsuit accusing the company of engaging in decades of lies about the limitations of recycling.
The company has shown more willingness to fight back against environmentalists and other critics who say its operations harm the climate and add to greenhouse gas emissions.